Common Errors in Indian Writing

chillibreeze writer — Sumita Sen

Languages grow and evolve over time. As societies progress, languages alter, reflecting in some measure, the social and cultural changes occurring all around. Similarly, languages shifted across geographical boundaries and implanted on foreign soil, imbibe and adopt, the nuances and fragrances of the host location. Very soon, they undergo changes in their very character and new languages emerge, similar to yet, different from, the parent language or the host-location language.

Such has been the case with English too. As more and more countries came under British rule, so did more and more “local” or “native” languages come under the influence of the English language. English, in turn, adapted to these local languages and underwent a transformation, giving birth to different versions of English. Today, “The Queen’s English” or grammatically-correct English is used by a steadily decreasing proportion of the English speaking population in these countries, while the “new” English is being adopted by a growing segment of people.

In India, those belonging to the educated, affluent, westernized, upper echelons of society still speak and write standard, grammatically-correct English. Government institutions (including offices, schools) use archaic, outdated English which was the official language of the British when they ruled this country (e.g., Please do the needful; at your earliest possible convenience; I remain your obedient servant – used in official communication). “Indian English” is the language used by the rest of the English-speaking populace in this country.

Indian English is not a single, homogeneous entity. Just as India is a conglomeration of a variety of cultures and ethnicities and social norms, so is Indian English a potpourri of several “Englishes”. The various forms of English currently prevalent in different parts of this country have their own character and attributes depending on the basic nature of the people and the language of the region. These forms may not be “correct” by the standard definition of the rights and wrongs of the English tongue, but they are a different, innovative version of English and deserve to be accepted as such.

A lot of what is referred to as, errors in Indian writings in English, are not, strictly speaking, errors – they are the character of the English that is spoken and understood here. English is learnt when there is exposure to the outside world – till then, the mother tongue is the medium of communication. So when these individuals learn English, the natural tendency is to literally translate their words, following the rules and nuances of the mother tongue. Indians are an emotional race and they write the way they think. They think in the vernacular and write or speak in English. So the outcome is not standard (British) English – it is Indian English in its many avatars.

Indians tend to be verbose and this gets reflected in Indian writing with long-winded sentences and the use of flowery, exaggerated language and too many adjectives and adverbs. There is a need to use short sentences and simpler language in order to get to the point quickly, without losing reader interest.

That apart, so-called inaccuracies that creep into English written by Indians have to do with the fact that, very often, they tend to translate directly from the vernacular / mother tongue to English without pausing to consider the rules of English grammar. To cite a few:

The mismatch between the noun and the verb: The children is playing in the park
“Each”, “every”, “everybody”, “anybody”, “nobody” being treated as plural: Everybody should carry their own luggage; Nobody are allowed inside this room.
The incorrect use of the comparative: This is more better (rather than this is better); this is more easy (rather than this is easier)
The absence of articles: I am going to city (instead of I am going to the city). I am eating apple (instead of I am eating an/the apple).
The incorrect positioning of articles: I have finished reading whole the book (instead of I have finished reading the whole book).
Incorrect use of may and can: Asking my English teacher “Can I go to play?” invariably brought forth the reply, “You can but you may not.” Can implies “ability” while may indicates “permission/possibility”
Counting non-countables – saying hairs, luggages, fishes, furnitures and peoples none of which are grammatically correct. The plural form of these words is the same as the singular.
The use of terms like real brother/sister and cousin brother/sister – in India, there is no differentiation made between siblings and cousins – hence the use of these terms to explain the actual relationship.
The unnecessary use of prepositions: Let us discuss about the plan.
The absence of “to”– Please suggest me; Can you say me…; Convey him my best wishes
The inability to differentiate between elder and older: He is my older brother (instead of He is my elder brother). She is 2 years elder to me (instead of She is 2 years older than I am)
The use of repetitive words: Can you repeat agai; I will revert back; this is a new innovation; attach together; he is circling round the house; I drew money from the ATM machine, and so on.
Unnecessary use of words like “only” and “always”: He comes late only; He finishes his food first always.
Unnecessary use of “of”: I had so much of pain.
Double words/rhyming words: Buy him some small-small toys, Lets have some chai-vai
Overuse of certain words like actually, seriously, generally: This program is very good, actually; Seriously I cannot do this.
Using “since” instead of “for” when indicating passage of time: I have been living here since 4 years (as opposed to I have been living here for 4 years).
Saying “back” instead of “ago”: I used to play cricket 7 years back (instead of I used to play cricket 7 years ago).
Word order - a tendency to misplace the verb: Who you are waiting for? Where you are going? When you are coming? What you will wear? Why you are not singing? How you are going to finish work in time?
Some more typical Indian English terms / phrases are:

• Please put your sign here (rather than signature)
• Today afternoon / yesterday night (instead of this afternoon, last night)
• I think so, because…..(so is redundant here)
• The reason for this is because……….( because is unnecessary).
• What is your good name please?(good is superfluous)
• Use of Mr and Mrs – My Mr/Mrs and I went for a party.
• I am reading in Class 4 (instead of I am studying in Class 4)
• I am putting up in…(instead of I am living in…)
• Prepone (instead of bring forward)
• He is a 1973 pass-out (instead of he graduated in 1973)
• Would-be (instead of fiance/fiancée/betrothed)

Though purists would tend to dub these as flaws in the use of English, it is these very differences that add color and character to the language and enable it to develop. Resistance to change leads to stagnation and eventually to death. It is only through such change and adaptation that English will continue to grow and evolve and entrance future generations.

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in July, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

A market researcher by profession, an educator by chance and a writer by choice, Sumita Sen, an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, has worked with companies across India and the far east. Her experience spans products in the consumer goods, media, services and social development sectors. Lately, she has been involved with mentoring a chain of schools in Eastern India. She is currently advisor to an entrepreneurial marketing advisory company and to a start-up finishing school that imparts training in communication, grooming, personality development and social & business etiquette.

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